Buc-ee’s stores bring up to 200 jobs into local economies depending on the size of the store and the services offered inside.

Buc-ee's bucks

Buc-ee’s stores bring up to 200 jobs into local economies depending on the size of the store and the services offered inside.

Photo: Brett Mickelson

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Origin stories

Co-founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III was given that nickname by his mother when he was a baby. When he was thinking of a name for his store he had a Labrador retriever named Buck. A little reworking was done and Buc-ee’s was named.

Aplin and co-founder Don Wasek focused on having cheap ice and clean restrooms when they opened. They expanded quite a bit in 34 years.

Ice and peein'

Aplin and co-founder Don Wasek focused on having cheap ice and clean restrooms when they opened. They expanded quite a bit in 34 years.

Photo: Brett Mickelson

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Get it right!

Don’t call it a truck stop, as that is incorrect. They don’t even have gas pumps for big rigs.

Get it right!

Don’t call it a truck stop, as that is incorrect. They don’t even have gas pumps for big rigs.

Photo: Brett Mickelson

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Fill it up

They have their own branded soda fountain drinks and they get flavors of Icee drinks like Big Red and Dr Pepper that other chains would kill for.

Fill it up

They have their own branded soda fountain drinks and they get flavors of Icee drinks like Big Red and Dr Pepper that other chains would kill for.

Photo: Brett Mickelson

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No waiting

The Buc-ee’s in Texas City has 33 urinals for the guys alone. That means that there shouldn’t be a wait to go.

No waiting

The Buc-ee’s in Texas City has 33 urinals for the guys alone. That means that there shouldn’t be a wait to go.

Photo: Brett Mickelson

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Award-winning

In 2012 the chain won an award from Cintas for having the best public restrooms. Customers still marvel at how clean their facilities are, even at 4 a.m.

Award-winning

In 2012 the chain won an award from Cintas for having the best public restrooms. Customers still marvel at how clean their facilities are, even at 4 a.m.

Photo: Brett Mickelson

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Clean cans

Aplin told the Houston Chronicle in early 2014 that the restrooms in his own home were just as clean as the ones in his stores. “Absolutely," he said. "I just don't have to clean them every hour though."

In 2014 the company went after a hill country store that was using a beaver mascot that looked a bit more like the Buc-ee’s creature than they would have liked. The Frio River Store soon surrendered its beaver assets.

In 2013, actor Kyle MacLachlan, best known for his stint as Agent Dale Cooper in "Twin Peaks," stopped at Buc-ee’s and snapped a photo of a sticker souvenir he picked up.

Howdy Mayor!

In 2013, actor Kyle MacLachlan, best known for his stint as Agent Dale Cooper in "Twin Peaks," stopped at Buc-ee’s and snapped a photo of a sticker souvenir he picked up.

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Big enough?

The New Braunfels location has 120 gas pumps and a footprint of 67,000 square feet.

Big enough?

The New Braunfels location has 120 gas pumps and a footprint of 67,000 square feet.

Photo: Brett Mickelson

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Buc-ee's anointed 'Best Rest Stop in America' by Bon Appetit

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When you first walk into a Buc-ee’s gas station, you wonder how a haven on the side of a crowded highway can exist.

The clean bathrooms beckon to you as you pass by the wafting smells of jerky and kolaches. You pick up some Beaver Nuggets and maybe post a photo of your trip to the famed Texas gas station before leaving, again, wondering, how can a place so wonderful be real?